Dedicate how much time

[my2cents]

I know your business is what you put into it, but I'm new to self serves and would like to know how much time I should dedicate to a 6 bay that does about $950.00(month) per bay on avereage. Keep in mind the equipment is in good working order. Just need a general idea of how many hours a day or week and how often it should be checked on like twice a day or every other day etc. I want to keep my day job.

 

[robert roman]

There are a number of sources to obtain best practices for self-service carwash.

ICA and equipment manufacturers have general guidance that addresses routine building and equipment maintenance as well as risk management such as things you can do to avoid freeze damage and slip and fall accidents.

A estimate of the average time that is associated with best practices can be obtained from benchmark surveys published by Auto Laundry News and Professional Carwashing and Detailing magazine as well as guidance that can be found in the Self-Service News magazine.

I tell my clients they should be prepared to spend between 25 and 30 hours a week to provide a customer-centric operation.

 

[Waxman]

I don't know how any carwash runs well if operated as 'unattended'. I know operators do it, but to me it is a crazy idea.

Things I do every day at the wash:

~make change (all day).
~sweep bays out (multiple times per day)
~empty garbage (soooo much garbage).
~test functions (foam brush, all h.p., spot free etc)
~fill vending
~ help customers in automatic (many need help)
~fix equipment
~maintain equipment
~pick up litter in lot
~fill token machine and autocashier w/proper coins
~projects

For me it's more like 60 hours/week.

 

[Earl Weiss]

That's a great question. I think locations doing the same volume could very greatly in the amount of attention they need. For instance a place with a lot of mud would require more. I have an 8 bay and would guesstimate that on average, an hour a day would be plenty for clean up, making sure the vendors are stocked and everything is working.

There will be days when more time is required for emptying coins, filling changers, counting money, paying bills. This could probably be spread over another 2 hours. There may still be other days where extra time is needed for certain repairs and maintenance.

Some things may come down to whether you cut your own grass, clean your own pits or have someone else do it.

Other efficiencies like bill paying can save time by setting up auto pay for monthly bills.

 

[pitzerwm]

IMO The more time you spend there the more money that you will make.

That said, I created an empire and the CW was the red head step child, so if I was there 15 minutes a day I was lucky.

You could just look at what you are making per hour by being there X hours a week, then as long as you can't make more money somewhere else, that's your answer.

 

[MEP001]

I spend at least 3 hours a day at a 6/1. I could knock out the main things in an hour a day (Dumping trash, rinsing bays that need it, checking soap), but it's easy for me to find more to do. If you do the bare minimum necessary to keep it running, your income won't be the same as if you're there to help more customers or for them to see you taking care of the place.

 

[MudMoney]

Years ago I timed customers on how long it took them to get change,a lot of them would sit in their car until the bay was clear be fore getting change,it drove me nuts as it would slow the line up.It took on average 2.5 minutes to get change.So on busy days I delivered change to them while they waited ,I increased revenue an extra $ 225 on those days.This was only a 3 bay,a very busy one.My point is being attented is worth it at some locations.As waxman noted there is always something to take care of.I am in serious mud country so cleaning bays is constant.I do charge more for this service

 

[MEP001]

Years ago I timed customers on how long it took them to get change,a lot of them would sit in their car until the bay was clear be fore getting change,it drove me nuts as it would slow the line up.

Many years ago I attended a wash that was so busy, every Saturday there was a line 3 deep behind every bay. I did the same thing, I bought an ammo belt with two large, deep pouches, filled them with quarters and would walk around the cars every 15 minutes or so giving change. I don't think I ever saw a single customer waiting in line get out of their car to get quarters - they'd always wait until they got into the bay first.

 

[my2cents]

Thanks everyone for the input on this. I would hope there would be days that could see me making change to speed things up. I do understand that trash needs to be picked up at least daily and maybe more. And I know that equipment needs preventive maintenance as well as emergency maintenance. I get called out of town regularly and would need someone to mind the store when I'm gone. This excercise lets me know that maybe after a 10hr day at "the office", I could still see me spending 1-3 hours at the wash. A busy Saturday in winter might have me there all day. The good and bad thing is there is no automatic as of yet.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Note how the rpolies vis a vis making change are prefaced with "years ago" or something like that.

I would think that with todays equipment choices if you had those types of thru put issues investments like In bay credit card and Bill acceptance would be a much better choice than running around making change.

 

[MEP001]

Note how the rpolies vis a vis making change are prefaced with "years ago" or something like that.

Sadly, I noticed that too. It's been about five years since I've seen more than two deep waiting on bays, in fact it's becoming unusual to see one car waiting at each bay.

I would think that with todays equipment choices if you had those types of thru put issues investments like In bay credit card and Bill acceptance would be a much better choice than running around making change.

That's definitely true - changer use is way down, especially with customers in the self-serve bays.

The point of the anecdotes was more to say that being around the wash to help keep things moving smoothly is worth the time spent.

 

[MudMoney]

Ok Earl I see your point on this at its noted.Yesterday I gave out change for 6 hours and got to talk with my regular customers and showed others the presoak instead of using the brushes.Demoed rugbeater and shampooers while chatting up with people I had not met before in the guise of customer service.What do you do?

 

[Earl Weiss]

Ok Earl I see your point on this at its noted.Yesterday I gave out change for 6 hours and got to talk with my regular customers and showed others the presoak instead of using the brushes.Demoed rugbeater and shampooers while chatting up with people I had not met before in the guise of customer service.What do you do?

I think my situation is different. I have an 8 bay coupled with an EE Tunnel. There are precious few days when all bays are full and people waiting. The weather needs to be right. I also circulate among 4 locations. The 8 bay tunnel has an attendant and manager. The manager is there 9-5 unless it's raining. Between them they take care of overseeing the 8 bay including cleaning, routine maintnenace and customer assistance when needed.

Many days my time is spent "Putting Out fires", management duties or just reviewing operations and pointing out to employees things that need attention.

Often I see a customer who seems in need of help and I offer to assist / educate. Usualy, customers seem to know what they are doing, and I just leave them alone.

Since putting bill acceptors in Bays. (Have not made the jump to credit cards yet) I would say revenue seems to be about 50 / 50 bill acceptors vs changers / vaults.